PART VI - CHRIST'S GALLILEAN MINISTRY

PART VI

CHRIST'S GALLILEAN MINISTRY

From the Autumn of AD. 27 the spring of AD. 29

Matt 4:17, Mark 1:14b-15, Luke 4:14-15, John 4:45

(Lk4:14) Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, (Jn4:45) the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there, (Mk1:14b-15) proclaiming the good news of God. (Lk4:14b) and news about him spread through the countryside. (Mk1:15) "The time has come," he said, "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Lk4:15) He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him.

39 The healing of a Capernaum Official's Son

At Cana, in Galilee

John 4:46-54

46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When the man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. "unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with then news got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour." 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed. this was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

40. The First Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth.

Luke 4:16-30

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written;

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of the sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Then he rolled up the scroll gave it back to the attendant and sat down; the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician heal thyself! Do here in your home town what we have heard that you did you in Capernaum."

24 "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his own home town. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three years and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarepath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy (skin diseases) in the time of Elisha the prophet yet not one of them was cleansed -- only Naaman the Syrian."

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went his way.

41. Christ's New Home in Capernaum.

Matt 4:13-16, Luke 4:31a

(Mt4:13) Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali - 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

"Land of Zebulen and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles -
the people living in the darkness
have seen and great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."

42. A Reasonable Catch of Fish -- Christ's Enlistment of Four fisherman

The lake of Galilee

Matt 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11

(Lk5:1) One day as Jerusalem was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee), with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fisherman, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then (Mk1:16) As Jesus walked beside they Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his (Mt4:18-22) brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they (Mk1:19b) left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

43.A Busy Sabbath in Capernaum - Many healed Including Peter's mother-in-law

Matt 8:14-17, Mark 1:21-34, Luke 4:31b-41

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. (Lk4:31b-41) In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, and evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of God!" 35 "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon, (Mk) shook the man violently and threw the man down before them all and came out (Mk) with a shriek, without injuring him. 27 The people were so amazed that they asked each other, "What new teaching is this? A new teaching (Lk)- with authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him, (Lk) and they come out!" 37 And the news (Mk) about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 simon's mother-in-law was in bed suffering from a high fever, and they told Jesus about her, (Lk) and they asked him to help her. 39 So he went to her, bent over her and took her hand and rebuked the fever, and helped her up. The fever left her and she got up at once and began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus (Lk) laying his hands of each one, healed many who had various diseases. (Lk4:41) Moreover, demons came out of many people, with a word and (Lk) shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow then to speak, because they knew he was the Christ. (Mt.8:17) This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 38 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" 38 Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else -- to the nearby villages -- so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." (Lk 42b) The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them,. 43 But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." (Mk.) So he traveled throughout (Mt) Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people, (Lk) and driving out demons. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various disease, those suffering pain, the demon-possessed, the epileptics and the paralytics, and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed.

45. The Healing of a Leper.

A town of Galilee

Luke 5:12-16, ????

12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell (on his knees) with his face to the ground and begged him, "lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said, "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. 43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as to a testimony to them." 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news, As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. 15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came from everywhere, (Lk5) to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

46 The Healing of a paralytic Lowered Through a Roof.

Capernaum

Matt 9:2-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-28

1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, as he was teaching, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many people gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. (Lk17b) Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, (Lk) on a mat (Mk) carried by four of them. (Lk18b) and they tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and (Mk4b) made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, they (Lk19b) lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 5 when Jesus saw their faith, () he said to the paralytic, "Take heart son; your sins are forgiven." 6 Now some Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, (Mt4b) "Why do you entertain such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But that you may know that he Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." (Lk25) Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and walked out, in full view of them all. and went home preaching God. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men. (Lk25b) and said, "We have seen remarkable things today." (Mk12b) "We have never seen anything like this!"

47. Christ's Enlistment of Matthew Levi

Capernaum

Matt 9:9, Mark 2:13-14, Luke 5:27-28

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 27 After this, 14 As he walked along, he saw a tax collector named Matthew Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me, " Jesus told him, and Matthew Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

48. At Matthew's Banquet Jesus Answers a Question About Fasting.

Capernaum

Matt. 9:10-17, Mark 2:15-22, Luke 5:29-39

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of (M5:15) tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When (L5:29) the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect (M2:15) saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they complained to his disciples: "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. 14 Then John's disciples came and asked Jesus, "How is it that we and the disciples of the Pharisees often fast and pray, but your disciples do not fast?" 15 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast." 36 He told them this parables: "No one bears a patch of unshrunk cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the new piece will pull away from the old making the tear worse. 22 And the patch from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and both the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." 39 And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'"

49 Jesus Heals a Man at a Pool in Jerusalem. A Consequent Sabbath Controversy.

Probably during the Passover Festival, in the spring of A.D. 28

John 5:1-45

1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie - the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

7. "Sir," the invalid replied, " I have no one help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

8. Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this happened was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Judeans said to the man he had healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat."

11. But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.'"

12 So they asked him, "Who was this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?"

13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

14 Later Jesus found him a the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15 The man went away and told the Judeans that it was Jesus who had made him well.

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Judeans persecuted him. 17 Jesus said to them, "My father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18 For this reason the Judeans tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath but he was even calling God his own father, making him equal with God.

19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son does also. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Father, who sent him.

24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death into life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

31 "If I have testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.

33 "You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who has sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 and yet make no effort to obtain the praise only from God?

45 "But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believe in Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

50 The Disciples Plucking Grain

Another Sabbath Controversy

Toward the end of April or in early May, A.D. 28

Matt.12:1-8, Mark2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5

23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and his disciples walked along the way, they were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain, rub them into their hands and eat the kernels. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."

25 He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which only lawful for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.

5 "Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not condemn the innocent." 27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

51. The Healing of a Man With a Shriveled Hand

Another Sabbath Controversy.

A synagogue in Galilee.

Matt 12:9-15a, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11

6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take a hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

13 Then he said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?" But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored (just as sound as the other.) 11 But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. 15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place.

52. Multitudes Healed By the Lake of Galilee

Matt 12: 15b-21, Mark 3:7-12

7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 8 When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumeam and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10 For he had healed so many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. 11 Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." 12 But he gave them strict orders (16) warning them not to tell who he was. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:(18-21)

" Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
he will now quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he leads justice to victory.
In his name the nations will put their hope."

53. Christ's Selection of Twelve apostles

Matt 10:2-4, Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16

12 One of those days Jesus went into the hills to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, who also designated apostles: (13) that they might be with him and the he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first he appointed Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means the Sons of Thunder); 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, Simon Who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

54. Christ's Momentous Sermon of the Galilean Mountainside

Matt 5:1-8:1, Luke 6:17-49

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those who were troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because the power was coming from him and healing them all.

(Mt5:1) Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and (Lk6:20) looking at his disciples, he began to teach them saying:

The Beatitudes:

Matthew Ch 5.

3. Tubwayhun l'meskenaee b'rukh d'dilhounhie malkutha d'ashmaya
3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
3b. (Blessed) Filled with the Spirit are those who live by every breath of Unity, their "I can!", is included in God's.

4. Tubwayhun lawile d'hinnon netbayun
4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
4b. Blessed are those in emotional turmoil, for they shall be united inside by love by God.

5. Tubwayhun l'makikhe d'hinnon nertun arha
5. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth."
5b. (Blessed) Healthy are those who have softened what is rigid within, they shall receive physical vigor and strength from the Universe,

6. Tubwayhun layleyn d'kaphneen watzheyn l'khenuta d'hinnon nisbhun
6. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."
6b. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for physical justice, they shall be surrounded by what is needed to sustain their bodies.

7. Tubwayhun lamrahmane dalayhun nehwun rahme
7. "Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy."
7b. Blessed are those who, from their inner wombs birth mercy; they shall feel its warm arms embrace them.

8. Tubwayhun layleyn dadkeyn b'lebhon d'hinnon nehzun 'alaha
8. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
8b. Blessed (Aligned with the One) are those whose lives radiate from a core of love, they shall see God everywhere.

9. Tubwayhun lahwvday shlama dawnaw(hie) d'alaha nitqarun
9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the Sons of God."
9b. Blessed are those who plant peace in each season; they shall be named the children of God.

10. Tubwayhun layleyn detrdep metol khenuta dilhon(hie) malkutha dashmaya
10. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."
10b. Blessings to those who are dislocated for the cause of justice their new home is the province of the universe.

11. Tubwayhun immath damhasdeen l'khon waradpin l'khon wamrin eleykon kul milla metolath b'dagalutha
11. "Blessed are you when men hate you. and they exclude you and they insult you, when they persecuted you and false said words against you. and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man."
11b. Blessed (Renewal) when you are reproached and driven away by the clamor of evil on all sides, for my sake...

12. Haydeyn khadaw wa rwazw dagarkhun sgee bashmaya hakana geyr r'dapw l'nabiya d'men q'damaykun
12. "Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven . For that is how their fathers persecuted the prophets who were before you ."
12b. Then, do everything extreme, including letting your ego disappear, for this is the secret of claiming your expanded home in the universe.

All who are enraptured, saying inspired things - who produce on the outside what the spirit has given them within.

from the Prayers of the Cosmos;
(Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus)
by Niel Douglas-Klotz
Harper And Row, Pubs., San Francisco, 1990

13. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt shall loose its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?" It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

14. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.15. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl; Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deed and praise your father in Heaven."

17. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of the pen shall disappear from the law, until everything is accomplished. anyone who breaks the least of these commandments., shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

21. You have heard that it was said that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder.' and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again anyone who says to his brother, 'Racca' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'you fool', will be in danger of the fire of Hell."

23. Therefor, if you are offering your gifts at the alter. and there remember that your brother has something against you , leave your gift there in front of the alter. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift."

25. "Settle matters with your adversary. who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown in prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid every last cent."

27. "You have heard that it is said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart, If your right eye causes you to sin then gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to loose one part of your body than for the whole body to be thrown into Hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to loose one part of your body that for your whole body to go to Hell."

31. "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a woman so divorced commits adultery."

33. "Again, you have heard that it was said to people long ago; Do not break your oath, but keep oaths made to the Lord." 34. But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven , for it is God's throne, or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot even make one hair black or white. 37. Simply let your 'Yes', be 'Yes', and your 'No', ' No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."

38. You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth. 39 But I tell you. Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right check, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take you tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you and turn not away from the one who wants to borrow from you. and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back."

43. "You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you, 45 that you may be the Sons of the Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are you not even the tax collectors doing that? (L-6) Even the 'sinners' love those who love them. 33 and if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners', expecting to be repaid in full. 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

1. "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5 "But when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of the many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 This is how you should pray:

Matthew 6:9-13, King James Version

The Lord's Prayer (Aramaic)

Abwoon d'bwashmaya
Nethqadash shmakha
Teytey malkuthak
Nehwey tzevyanach aykanna d'bashmaya aph b'arha
Hawvlan lachma d'sunqanan yaomana
Washboqlan khaubayn (wakhtahayn) aykana daph khnan shbwoqan l'khayyabayn
Wela tahlan l'nesyuna
Ela patzan min bisha
Metaol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta l'ahlam almin.
ameyn.

Translation (Tentative) from the Aramaic

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos
Focus your light within us - make it useful
Create your reign of unity now -
Your one desire then acts with ours,
as in all light, so in all forms.
Grant what we need each day in bread and insight.
Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,
as we release the strands we hold of others guilt.
Don't let surface things delude us
But free us from what holds us back
From you is born all ruling will,
the power and the life to do,
the song that beautifies all,
from age to age it renews.
Truly power to these statements - may they be ground from which all
my actions grow: Amen.

Traditional

Our father which art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen.

14 "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men in their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men how they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting , but only to your father, who is unseen; and your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

(Lk24) "But woe to the rich, for you have already received your comfort.

25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep."

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust to not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 "The body is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light within you is darkness how great will be that darkness!

24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money (Mammon).

25 "Therefor I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what will you wear. Is not your life more important than food, and the body more important more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 36 Be merciful just as your Father in heaven is merciful . 37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For in the same way you judge others you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured it to you.. He also told them these parables. "Can the blind lead the blind. Will they not both fall into a pit.

"A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher."

"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, when you fail to see the plank in your own eye. How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye', when you first fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite. First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

6 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw pearls to swine. If you do they may trample them under their feet and then turn and tear you to pieces. 7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

9 "Which of you when his son asks for a piece of bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 In everything do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Laws and the Prophets.

13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and many may enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and hard the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored in his heart, and the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow in his heart his mouth speaks.

46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not say what I say?

21 "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord' did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a wise man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but the storm could not shake it, because it was well built. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation upon a rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house upon ground without a foundation. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew against that house, and it fell with a great crash, and its destruction is complete."

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at this teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the Law. 1 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.

55 A Centurion's Servant Healed

Capernaum

Matt 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10

1 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Caparnaum. 2 There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard about Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." (Mt8:7) Jesus said, "I will go and heal him." (Lk7:6) So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; I say to my servant, 'Do this' and he does it." 9 When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into he darkness, were there will be weeping and thrashing of teeth." 13 Then, to reassure the centurion, Jesus said, "It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour. 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

56 A Widow's Son Restored to Life.

Nain

Luke 7:11-17

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out - the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."

14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said, "God has come to help his people." 17 This news spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

57 An Inquiry From John the Baptist in Prison and the Reply of Jesus

Matt: 11:2-30, Luke 7:18-35

18 John's disciples told him in prison what Christ was doing. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'" 21 At that time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, "Go back report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

24 After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? a man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in kings' courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

27 This is the one about whom it is written:

"'I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.'

11 I tell you the truth: among those born of women there was not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

31 "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 they are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.'

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34 The son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say. He is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners"' 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children."

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented a long time ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum , will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of Judgment than for you."

25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those who the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

58 A Pertinent Woman Expresses Devotion to Christ In a Pharisee's House

Luke 7:36-50

36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisees house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, (nard) 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissing them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisees who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is - that she is a sinner.

40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me teacher," he said.

41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and another fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

"You have judged correctly, " Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I have entered has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved me much. But he who has forgiven little loves little."

48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

59 Christ's Second Tour of Galilee, With the Twelve and Some Women.

Luke 8:1-3

1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from who seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These woman were helping to support them out of their own means.

The Death of John the Baptist.

Matt: 14:6-13a, Mark 6:21-29

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodia came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give it to you, up to half my kingdom."

24 She went out and said to her mother, "What shall we ask for?"

"The head of John the Baptist," she answered.

25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with the orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it on a tomb. Then they also told Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew...

61 Christ's Intensive and Troubled Ministry Arouses Family Concern

Probably Capernaum

Matt 12:22-50, mark 3:20-35, Luke 8:19-21

20 Then Jesus entered a house and again the crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." 22 Then they (the crowd) brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both see and talk. 23 All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"

24 But when the Pharisees 22 and the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem heard this they said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub!"

"It is only by Beelzebub the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, them that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, then that house cannot stand. If therefore Satan is in rebellion against himself, he is divided and cannot stand - that is the end of his power. 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or again, how can anyone break into a strong man's house and take away his belongings until he first ties up the strong man; only then he can plunder his house. 30 he who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 28 Truly I tell you all these things can be forgiven to men - their sins and their blasphemies they use; however anyone who blasphemies against the holy Spirit can never be forgiven. Anyone who peaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come (but is guilty of eternal sin). 33 Make a tree good and its fruit is good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. 30 He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil (unclean) spirit."

38 Then some of the Pharisees and the teachers of law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."

39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish (whale), so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the belly of the Earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest it does not find it. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes it with seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

46 When Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his brothers and mother arrived. 19b but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 31b Standing outside, they sent some one in to call him. 31 A crowd was sitting around him, and the told him, 46b "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."

48 He replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and 49 pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. My mother and my brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

62 Parable about the kingdom of God.

Matt 13:1-53, Mark 4:1-34, Luke 8:1-18

(Mt13:1) That same day Jesus went out of the house and began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him 4b from town after town, was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching 4c he told this parable:

3 "Listen! A farmer went out to saw his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air 3b came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, (L6b) because they had no moisture, (M6b) and they were withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. I came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even and hundred times more than was sown." When he said this he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

10 When he was alone, the Twelve and others around him came to him and asked, "Why do you speak in parables?"

11 He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why 10b to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that,

"'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.'"

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

"'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people's heart has become callused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
and turn, and I would heal them.'

16 "But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see but did not see it, and to hear and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." 13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 11b The seed is the word of God. 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like the seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear the message about the kingdom, not understanding it, Satan, the evil one comes and snatches away 14b the word that was sown in 12b their hearts, so that they cannot believe and be saved. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, 13b receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have not root. they believe for a while, but 16b they last only a short time. When troubled or persecution comes because of the word, 13c in the time of testing 17b they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the word; but as they go on their way 19b the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come and chock the word, and the do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word retain it, and by persevering produce a crop - thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

21 He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? 16 No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." 24 "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

26 He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, through he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts it to the sickle, because the harvest has come."

24 Jesus told the another parable:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weed also appeared. 27 The owner's servants came to him and said, "Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?"

28 "An enemy did this," he replied.

"The servants asked him, 'do you want us to go and pull them out?'

29 "'No ,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"

30 Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Through it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows, it is the largest of the garden plants and becomes a tree, 32b with such branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."

He told then still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it work all through the dough."

33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word 34b to the crowd 33c as much as they could understand. 34 he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

"I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."

37 He answered,

"The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out the kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 49 The will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will be weeping and gnashing their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

44 "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden if a field. when a man found it, he did cover it again, and then in his joy went and sold everything that he owned and bought it.

45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. They they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

51 "Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked.

"Yes," they replied.

52 He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."

53 When Jesus was finished these parables, he moved on from there.

63 The Miraculous Calming of a Violent Storm

The Lake of Galilee

Matt 8:18,23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25

35 That day when the evening came, 18 when Jesus saw the crowd around him, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over 22b to the other side of the lake. 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over 37b the boat, so that it 23b was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on cushion. 24 the disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master we're going to drown!" "Lord save us! Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They were terrified and in fear and amazement they asked each other, "What kind of man is this?" 25b He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

64 The Healing of a Gerasene Demoniac

South-east of the Lake of Galilee

Matt. 8:28-9:1a, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39

26 They sailed to the region of Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When he Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon possessed man from the town. (Matthew says two) For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs, so violent that no one could pass that way. 29b Many times the demon, had seized him and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, and kept under guard, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" 8 For Jesus was saying to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name."

"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many," because many demons had gone into him.

29b "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" they cried. 32 And they 10b begged Jesus again and again not to order them to go 10c out of the area (31c into the abyss). 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there 11c on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, 31b "If you drive us out, send us 12c among the pigs; allow us to go into them" 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirit came out 33b of the man, 13b and into the pigs. the 32b whole herd, 13c about two thousand in number in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what happened, they 33b ran off, went into the town and reported all 14b this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who been possessed by the legion of demons, 35b from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus'' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon possessed man had been cured, 15b and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then 37a all of the people of the region of the Gerasenes 17b began to plead with Jesus to leave their region, 37b because they were overcome with fear. 18 As Jesus was getting in the boat, 38b he sent the man who had been demon possessed away, saying, 39 "Return home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has mercy on you." 20 So the man went away and began to tell all over the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. and all the people were amazed.

65. The Healing of a Woman who Touched Christ's Cloak and the Restoration of Jairus' Daughter to Life.

Capernaum

Matt 9:1b,18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-56

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to other side of the lake, to his own town, a large crowd welcomed he, for they were all expecting him. 21b

While he was by the lake, 22 one the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 18b and knelt before him 23 and pleaded earnestly with 41b him to come to his house 18c and said, "My daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live. 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. As Jesus was on his way, 24b a large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse, 43b but no one could heal her. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked , "Who touched my clothes?" 31 "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?'" 32 Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 45b When they denied it Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you." 46 Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not to go unnoticed, came and fell at his feet, told him the whole truth. 47b In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, "Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." 22c And the woman was healed from the moment.

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said, "why bother the teacher any more." 36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jairus 23b saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, 38b with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? Go away the child is not dead but asleep." 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 40b After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha kumi!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you getup!"). 42 Immediately 55 her spirit returned, and at once she stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this 56 her parents were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about 56b what had happened. 55b Then Jesus told them 43b to give her something to eat. 26 news of this spread through all that region.

66. The Healing of Two Blind Men and a Dumb Demoniac

Probably Capernaum.

Matt.9:27-34

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"

"Yes Lord," they replied.

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been dumb spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."

34 But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out the demons."

7 The Final Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

Matt 13:54-58, Mark 6:1-6a

1 Jesus left there and went to his home town, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked.

"What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles? Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joses, Judas and Simon. 56 Aren't all his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, "Only in his home town among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

68 Christ's Third tour of Galilee, with his Disciples.

Matt 9:35-38, Mark 6:6b

6b The Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

69 Christ's Instruction of the Twelve Before Sending Them out on a Preaching Mission

Matt 10:1,5-11:1, Mark 6:7-13, Luke 9:1-6

1 When Jesus had called the Twelve disciples to him 1b he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out two by two to preach the kingdom of God and gave them authority over evil spirits 1d and to heal the sick. 8 These were his instructions: 5b "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Take nothing for your journey. 9 Do not take any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; no bread, for the worker is worth his keep.

11 "Whatever town of village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you 11b leave, as a testimony against them." 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gamorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 But be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what you say or how you say it. At that time you will be given what you say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house is Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!

26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak it in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul an body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more that many sparrow.

32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men before men, I will disown him before my Father.

34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

"'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law --
26 a man's enemies will be a member of his own household'.

37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And if anyone gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.

1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel 12b that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

70 Herod Antipas Agitated by a Rumor

Probably Tiberias

Matt 14:1-2,Mark 6:14-16, Luke 9:7-9

1 At that time Herod the Tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and 7b about all that was going on 14b for Jesus' name had become well known. 7c And he was perplexed, because some were saying 1c to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

15 Others said, 8b that Elijah had appeared, and still others 15b claimed, 8b that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. 16 But when Herod heard this, he said, 8c "I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about? 16b John the man I beheaded is raised from the dead!" And he tried to see him.

71 The Return of the Twelve from Their Mission

Mark 6:30, Luke 9:10a

10 When apostles returned they 30b gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.